What your worry really means (and how it helps anxiety)
Aug 20, 2021 2:09 am
Happy Thursday,
Summer is winding town, training camps have started, school is right around the corner (and started for some!) ... As we move into the next season of performance I have two messages for you:
- The most important thing you can do to help your team, and
- You worry because you care
Enjoy both,
Dr. Eddie
You Have to Do THIS for Your Team to Succeed
Many qualities are required for successful teams, but the one I find most important (and the most under your control) is role clarity and acceptance.
You simply can’t perform your best if you don’t know EXACTLY what you should be doing and when. The team hums like a well oiled machine when everyone knows their specific job and responsibilities.
So for athletes, ask questions when you are unsure of what your job is and isn’t. Let go of responsibilities that aren’t yours and don’t cross the boundaries of teammates trying to “help” them by picking up their assignment (it undermines their effort, confidence and motivation). It may be difficult accept that your role isn’t to be the star, or scoring leader. It may require humility to “just” set the pick or hold the block … but please know the value of that role. For if you don’t execute your role they play won’t be successful. It truly takes a team. Acceptance of these less celebrated but very important roles is critical.
Coaches, it is up to you to define these roles for each of your athletes. It is equally important to reinforce the value of each role and their contribution to success by enthusiastically celebrating a job well done.
Check out “The Psychology of Performance: How to Be Your Best in Life” at www.thegreatcourses.com/dreddieoconnor for the 21st lesson, “Four Qualities of Successful Teams” and 23 other sport psychology topics that will make you better at what you do!
You Worry Because You Care
You worry because you care.
You have anxiety because you care.
This is, by far, the number one reason you have performance anxiety.
You want to do well.
Your mind is built to protect you from harm. It worries to warn you of what could go wrong (not what will go wrong).
If you lose or make a mistake, it will hurt. The more you care about the outcome, the more it will hurt. So the more you care the more your mind will tell you stories of what could go wrong attempting to warn you of the risk.
And, as you know, this only distracts you from the task at hand and ultimately hurts performance.
So, the next time you worry, understand that your anxiety is a sign you are in the exact right place, doing something you love and care about. Not necessarily that there is an impending disaster coming. And refocus on what you can do in this moment to succeed (preventing what you are afraid of).
If you are playing better in practice than in games and want to be more consistent, reply to this e-mail for individual tele-health consulting.
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Dr. Eddie O’Connor
